Depression

موضوع: Depression الجمعة أكتوبر 03, 2008 5:55 pm

Depression

Definition

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods

True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time

Alternative Names

Blues; Discouragement; Gloom; Mood changes; Sadness; Melancholy

Considerations

Depression is generally ranked in terms of severity -- mild, moderate, or severe. The degree of your depression, which your doctor can determine, influences how you are treated

Symptoms of depression include

Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

A dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss

Fatigue and lack of energy

Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt

Extreme difficulty concentrating

Agitation, restlessness, and irritability

Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Depressed children may not have the classic symptoms of adult depression. Watch especially for changes in school performance, sleep, and behavior. If you wonder whether your child might be depressed, it's worth bringing to a doctor's attention

The main types of depression include

Major depression -- five or more symptoms listed above must be present for at least 2 weeks, but major depression tends to continue for at least 6 months

Dysthymia -- a generally milder form of depression that lasts as long as two years

Atypical depression -- depression accompanied by unusual symptoms, such as hallucinations (for example, hearing voices that are not really there) or delusions - irrational thoughts

Other common forms of depression include

Postpartum depression -- many women feel somewhat down after having a baby, but true postpartum depression is rare

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- depressive symptoms occur one week prior to menstruation and disappear after you menstruate

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -- occurs during the fall-winter season and disappears during the spring-summer season. Likely to be due to lack of sunlight

Depression may also occur with mania (known as manic-depression or bipolar disorder). In this condition, moods cycle between mania and depression

Depression is more common in women than men and is especially common during the teen years.

Men seem to seek help for feelings of depression less often than women. Therefore, women may only have more documented cases of depression

Common Causes

Depression often runs in families. This may due to your genes (inherited), learned behavior, or both

Depression may be brought on by

Alcohol or drug abuse

Childhood events like abuse or neglect

Chronic stress

Death of a friend or relative

Drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications

Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis

Nutritional deficiencies - such as a lack of folate and omega-3 fatty acids

Prolonged pain or having a major illness

Sleeping problems

Social isolation - common in the elderly

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle habits can help prevent depression, or lessen the chances of it happening again

These habits include eating properly, sleeping adequately, exercising regularly, learning to relax, and not drinking alcohol or using drugs

Counseling may help you through times of grief, stress, or low mood. Family therapy may be particularly important for teens who feel blue

If you feel socially isolated or lonely, try volunteering or getting involved in group activities

موضوع: رد: Depression الأحد أكتوبر 05, 2008 4:53 pm

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